There are a lot of problems in this world and sometimes it can feel like we’re never going to make it. But here’s the good news, things are never as bad as they seem, and life has a funny way of working itself out. This post is aimed at putting things into perspective and promoting a sense of gratitude towards life. You may not be not be able to control the world around you, but you can control how you react to it. Life is beautiful and so are the little things. Here’s how you know that everything’s not so bad after all.
1. You’re healthy
You may be struggling with your weight or health in some way, but as long as you’re alive and breathing, you have a chance to make things better. If you already have an illness, do everything in your power to beat it. No matter how bad the situation looks, there is always hope.
2. You have shelter
If you have a roof over your head, this is one of the best signs that everything is working out for your benefit. This may seem like a basic necessity but there are people in the world who don’t even have this. No matter how much or how little you have, appreciate what you do have and try to make it better.
3. You’re in a position to make your dreams come true
If you’ve ever had a dream, there’s no reason why you can’t achieve it. Your dreams are what make you who you are and everyone deserves the chance to discover them. Don’t let anyone stifle your creativity or ambition. If you don’t believe you can do something, there is no harm in trying.
4. You have people who love you
If you have friends or family around you who care about your well being, consider yourself lucky. There are many people in the world without this support system. It’s important to have someone you can count on when times are tough and so is your health.
5. You paid the bills this month
You’ve maybe even had extra to spend on non-necessities. It doesn’t matter how much you belabored the checks as they went out, the point is that they did, and you figured it out regardless.
6. You question yourself
You don’t know everything, you make mistakes and you know it. This is not a bad thing; people who think they know everything rarely do, and the best route to knowledge is through experience. The trick is knowing when you’ve made a mistake and how to avoid doing so again next time.
7. You have a job
For a small amount of our population, working a standard 40-hour week is a reality, and for this you should be grateful. Beyond that, not everyone has been as lucky to find employment as you have.
8. You have time to do something you enjoy
Whether it’s watching Netflix, reading a book, taking a walk outside, playing with your cat, or whatever makes you happy – you have the time to do it.
9. You don’t have to worry about your next meal
Not only do you have food, but also a lot of different types of food and options when it comes to eating. Starvation has trended downwards in the past century, but that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t happen.
10. You have money to spend on yourself
Even if you can’t afford much, it’s yours. If you can buy new clothes for yourself or get your nails done, good for you; take advantage of having the means to make yourself feel beautiful and pampered.
11. You have running water
If you’re reading this from a first world country, you probably take it for granted – but that’s one thing that separates us from people who don’t even have access to clean drinking water. If you know the luxury of turning on a tap and getting fresh water at any time, try to remember how blessed you are next time you open the faucet.
12. You have a space of your own
Even if it’s not much to look at, you have a place where you take refuge from the rest of the world. This is your space and it means a great deal to you because it’s yours. It may be humble, but it’s something that not everyone has – so don’t ever take it for granted.
13. You have at least one close friend
You have someone who will not judge you, who will always be there for you to pick up the pieces and find comfort in. They are your rock and while they may not be able to do everything, they try their best.
14. You’re not the same person you were a year ago
You’ve grown, you’ve evolved and you’re taking steps to become a better version of yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The only other person in the world who deserves your happiness is you.
15. You know what it feels like to be happy
Maybe it’s because your life situation has improved or maybe it’s because things are the way they’re meant to be, but you feel content. You don’t have it bad nor do you have it good. Whatever your situation is, you know how to cherish what you have and not wish for something else.
16. You know when something isn’t right in your life.
You can tell when you’re unhappy, stressed out or tired because there are clear signs that something needs to change. Having this knowledge is valuable, seeing these signs and knowing what to do when they happen. If you catch problems when they’re still small, it’s much easier for you to fix them sooner rather than later.
17. You know and love yourself
You feel comfortable in your own skin and don’t try to change who you are in order to meet the expectations of other people. You understand that you are your own person and you have no reason to feel insecure about it.
18. You have life experiences to look back on
You’ve had good times, bad times, awful times, fantastic times – but you were able to pull through them all because this is what life is about. Sometimes life is scary, but it also beautiful because you managed to accomplish something.
19. You know that sometimes life sucks before getting better
Whatever your problem may be, there are times when things will be tough and difficult to swallow – but eventually the bad times end. It’s important to take these difficulties as lessons rather than betrayals.
20. You know not everything is about you
You realize that there are other people in this world who have it worse than you, and sometimes their lives are just plain terrible. Don’t compare your life to someone else’s because you never know what they’re going through or how lucky you are without knowing it!